Non-drip bottle



M. w. POSTEL I 3,362,587

NON'DRIP BOTTLE Jan. 9, 1968 Filed Aug. 8, 1966 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,362,587 NON-DRIP BOTTLE Marion W. Postel, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Herman F. Miller, doing business as Stenotype Company, Los Angeles, Calif.

Filed Aug. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 571,956 1 Claim. (Cl. 222-408) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention provides a dependable sealing closure for bottles such as may contain ink or other fluids likely to soil the fingers and clothing of a user. The bottle has a threaded neck and a tapered spout extending from the neck, with an annular shoulder surrounding the base of the spout. A cap is screwed on the neck and has a closed outer end provided with a central blind hole on the inside to receive and seal the tip of the spout. A liquid-absorbent member placed within the cap has a central hole through which the spout extends. When the cap is screwed on tightly the absorbent member is compressed between the closed outer end of the cap, the spout, and the annular shoulder of the neck, so as to seal the bottle however carelessly it may be handled.

The present invention relates to a bottle having nondrip characteristics. The bottle is primarily constructed to receive a cap which closes a spout secured to the bottle and prevents liquid from overflowing or dripping from the spout. With respect to the foregoing, at the present time the average stenotype machine, which is a shorthand machine, requires that the ribbon used in said machine be inked or re-inked periodically in order that readable notes be obtained. Such a procedure often results in the ink escaping from the spout of the bottle and moving down the outside of the spout and around the screw threads between the spout and the cap and flowing over the bottle itself thus causing ink stains on the fingers and other objects when the bottle is contacted. This same ditficulty often occurs when the bottle contains an oil.

An object of the invention is to provide a bottle and its cap so constructed and arranged as to absorb any overflow of liquid such as ink or oil, or other liquid, and which may be present in a spout carried by the bottle to prevent the liquid from running down the side of the spout and the side of the bottle after discharging different amounts of the liquid from said bottle.

Other objects will include a bottle of the type mentioned which is inexpensive in cost of manufacture, and efficient in operation and use.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a detached perspective view showing a bottle and its cap incorporating the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line 22 of FIGURE 1, the cap being replaced on the neck of the bottle;

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view of the cap; and,

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of an absorbent member for use in the practice of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, I have shown in FIG- URE 1 a bottle 1 having a neck 2 provided with external screw threads 3 and a tapered spout 4 extending from the neck. The tapered spout 4 has a base or inner end of substantially less diameter than the outer end of the neck (to which it is joined) thereby providing an annular shoulder. A cap 5 is provided, which cap is internally screw threaded at 6 for connection with the threads 3 of the bottle neck, the cap having a closed outer end 7 and the space within the cap between the closed end 7 and the threads 6 provided with a liquid absorbent member 8 having a central hole extending therethrough, as shown at 9. The cap end 7 is provided with a blind or closed end hole 10 in axial alignment with the hole 9 of the absorbent member 8 when the member is received within the cap. The hole in the absorbent material may be of uniform diameter and of a diameter which will receive the spout and as the cap is screw threaded on thethreads 3 of the neck of the bottle, the tapered spout will compress the absorbent member between the spout and the inner wall of the cap and cause tight fit engagement between the periphery of the spout and the absorbent member, as shown in FIGURE 2. The cap will move upon the threads 3 so as to position the end of the spout within the closed end hole 10. The end of the spout seals against the closed end of hole 10 and closes the spout bore. However, any other fiow or drip from the spout will contact the absorbent member and prevent said overflow from moving downwardly from the spout and perhaps around the screw threaded neck of the bottle and onto the bottle.

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention are as follows.

Any absorbent material may be utilized for making member 8, such as felt, a chemically treated cotton, fibrous material or the equivalent. The bottle 1 may contain a light oil such as a non-evaporative oil as used for sewing machines or the bottle may contain ink. After use of the bottle to discharge the content thereof through the spout 4, the cap, upon replacement on the neck of the bottle, passes the tapered spout 4 through the hole in the absorbent material such as felt which is positioned between the ends of the screw threads and the closed end 7 with, the end of the spout received within the blind bore 10 to close the end of the spout which seals the opening of the spout against passage of liquid. However, any drip of liquid from the end of the spout and around the spout will be absorbed by the absorbent material 8 and thus prevent said drip material from flowing down around the interior of the cap and the neck of the bottle and onto the bottle. Thus, ones fingers are prevented from becoming contaminated with oil, ink, or other liquid material and the bottle body is maintained clean. The bottle may be made of any suitable material, and although a plastic is contemplated, the bottle may be formed of metal or glass and the cap of like material and provided with the absorbent material within the same.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character disclosed, a bottle for holding liquids and provided with a neck, a tapered spout extending from the outer end of the neck, said tapered spout having a base end of lesser diameter than the outer end of the neck to provide an annular shoulder and the neck provided with external screw threads; a cap having a closed end and an open end and provided with a threaded interior inward from the open end thereof for 3 4 engagement with the threads of the neck, an absorbent References Cited material within the cap between the closed end of the cap and the threads thereof and having a central hole there- UNITED ST ATES PATENTS through for receiving the tapered spout and holding the 4,361 5/1871 Halflas 1 X spout in compressive engagement therewith substantially 5 193,808 873 Newbaker 222108 throughout its length, the closed cap end provided with 638,678 12/1899 Barnes 222-108 a central blind hole for receiving and sealing the tip of the spout, said absorbent material when the cap is screwed FOREIGN PATENTS on the neck of the bottle being compressively held be- 525,512 5/1931 Germany.

tween the closed end of the cap, the tapered spout and the annular shoulder of the neck. 10 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner. 

